Pipe wrench



E. H. LEGG PIPE WRENCH April 24, 1945.

Filed Sept. 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Inventor gene Hazy 1% April 24, 1945.

E. H. LEGG Filed Sept. 3, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nventor yerze fi/zy Patented Apr. 24, 1945 PIPE WRENCH E gene Harry Legg, Bergoo, W. Va., assignor of na -ha f W. Va.

to Claude M. Blankenship, Adrian,

Application September 3, 1943, Serial No. 5,01,,169

ifcaim. (01. 8 -106) Q The present invention relates t new and useful improvements in pipe wrenches of the type comprising a stationary inner jaw and a slidable outer jaw ccoperable with said inner jaw.

Tlieprimary object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pipe wrench of the aforementioned character comprising unique means. whereby the slidableouter jaw may be rapidly and accurately adjusted as desired.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench of the character described embodying a novel construction and arrangement for swinging the outer jaw to open position relative to the stationary inner jaw, whereby application of the tool to the work and removal therefrom will be expedited.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an adjustable pipe wrench which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, light in'weight, and which 'may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become ap parent from astudy of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a pipe wrench constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the tool with a portion of the handle broken away.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figures .4 and are cross-sectional Views, taken substantially on the lines 44 and 5-5, respectively, of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail view in perspective of the pin which connects the shank of the. slidable outer jaw to the frame.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a handle I of suitable metal. The handle I may be of any suitable dimensions. On one end of the handle I is a toothed stationary inner jaw 2. The portion of the handle I which is adjacent the jaw 2 is provided, on its front, with a series of transguide 4. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, the bore or passage in the guide 4 is formed to provide opposed, substantially-V shaped fulcrums 5.

A frame 6 is mounted for sliding and swinging movement on the portion of the handle I which includes the grooves 3. Toward this end, the

frame 6 includes'an integral eye I through which the handle I passes. Formedin the eye 1 isffan integral, substantially V-shaped tooth 8 which is engageable selectively in the grooves 3 for securing the frame 6 in adjusted position for swinging movement on the handle I.

A shank 9 is slidable in the guide 4 and rockable: j on the fulcrums 5.

On the forward end of the shank 9 is a toothed outer jaw I 0 which is cooperable with the stationary inner jaw 2. Threadedly mounted in the inner end portion of-the shank 9 is a transverse, removable pin ll. As best seen in Figure 6 of the drawings, the pin ll comprises a threaded intermediate portion I 2 and smooth end portions l3 having slots l4 therein for receiving a screw driver. The inner end portion of the shank 9 projects into the frame 6. The

smooth end ortions I3 of the pin II project from the shank 9 and, are engaged in slots IS in the side walls of the frame 6 for pivotally and slidably connecting said shank to said frame.

A spring pressed plunger 16 is slidably mounted in the inner portion of the frame 6 and engaged with the back of the handle I for engaging the tooth Bin the desired groove 3 and for rocking said frame 6 forwardly or. outwardly on said handle. A spring pressed plunger I1 is slidably.

mounted in the inner rear portion of the guide 4 and engaged with the shank 9 for swinging same on the fulcrums 5 in a manner to open the jaw Ill or, in other words, to swing said jaw l0 away from the jaw 2.

It is thought that the operation of the tool will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly to adjust the slidable outer jaw Hi, the frame 6 is swung to a position substantially at right angles to the handle I and pressure is exerted on the rear end thereof for disengaging the tooth 8 from theopposed groove 3 against the action of the spring pressed plunger When the tooth 8 is thus disengaged, the frame 6 may be moved longitudinally on the han- -dle l for adjustingthe jaw Hi. When pressure is removed from the frame 6, the plunger IB immediately engages the tooth 8 in one of the grooves 3 and swings saidframe forwardly. frame 6 is cocked on the handle I with the tooth 8 engaged in one of the grooves 3. The plunger l'lnormally maintains the shank 9 and the jaw Ill Thus, the i in the position of Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

In this position, it will be observed that the pin 4 l v the tool is applied and the turning operation is started, the jaw 10 swings toward the jaw 2 for 'firmly gripping the work. The greater the pull on the handle I, the tighter will be the grip taken on the work by the tool' Reverse movement of the handle I permits the plunger I! to open the jaw Ill, thereby facilitating disengagement of the tool from the work. v

It is believed that the many advantages of a pipe wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the tool is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted towhich will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. ,7

; What is claimed is: i

'A pipe wrench comprising an elongated handle having a toothed inner jaw on the outer end thereof and provided in its front edge with a longitudinal series of transverse grooves, a guide rigid with and projecting rearwardly from said law, said guide having a bore extending in the same direction as the handle and providing opposed front and rear fulcrums in the guide, a frame mounted for sliding and limited swinging movement on the handle, said frame having an eye at the front through which the handle loosely passes and being provided in the front of the eye with a tooth selectively engageable in the grooves of the handle and afiording a transverse fulcrum adjustable longitudinally of the handle and about which the frame may swing outwardly or inwardly, a shank slidable in and constantly contacted by both of the opposed fulcrums of the guide for rocking forwardly or rearwardly in the latter, said shank having a forwardly projecting outer jaw. on the outer end thereof, means connecting the inner end of the shank to the rear of the frame for limited sliding movement forwardly or rearwardly relative to the latter and permitting the swinging of the frame relative to the handle and the shank, spring means in the eye of the frame inwardly of the tooth and engaging the back of the handle to swing the fram outwardly, and spring means in the guide inwardly of its opposed fulcrums and engaging the back of the shank to rock the latter in a direction to swing the outer jaw outwardly and rearwardly from the inner jaw.

EUGENE HARRY LEGG. 

